Grand Rapids: Man facing death penalty wants to dump lawyers
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A man facing a possible federal death penalty in western Michigan says he wants to represent himself.
Rami Saba (RAH’-me SAH’-ba) of Lowell made a handwritten request last week to dump his lawyers. A federal judge set a hearing for Tuesday in Grand Rapids but then postponed it until Saba’s mental competency can be determined.
Saba and another man are charged in the disappearance of Donald Dietz of Ionia County. Investigators say they were working to steal Dietz’s identity and get control of his $443,000 bank account.
The Amway retiree has been missing for nearly three years. The U.S. Justice Department has until Aug. 2 to declare whether it will seek the death penalty if Saba and his alleged accomplice are convicted.
Lansing: Levin to lead state department for energy, economy
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Jennifer Granholm is announcing a change in leadership for the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
The governor says Monday that current director Stanley “Skip” Pruss will retire at the end of this week. Pruss has led the consolidated state department since 2008.
Andy Levin will become the department’s acting director. Levin has been a deputy director of the department since 2007.
Bloomingdale Twp.: Motorcyclist crashes, dies after hitting buzzard
BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A wayward turkey buzzard caused a crash that killed an 18-year-old motorcyclist in southwestern Michigan.
Van Buren County sheriff’s deputies say a large bird flew into Dillon Reed’s path as the Bloomingdale man was riding his motorcycle Monday about 45 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.
The turkey buzzard slammed into Reed’s chest, causing him to lose control and leave the roadway. He crashed into nearby trees a few miles southeast of Bloomingdale.
Reed was wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Port Huron: Court: Judge cited wrong facts in 4-year sentence
PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — A four-year prison sentence has been tossed out after a federal judge in Port Huron stated the wrong facts and had a written decision in hand before the hearing.
An appeals court ruled Monday in the case of Lashawn Wilson of Detroit, who used stolen money orders to buy computers.
Wilson was sentenced to 48 months in prison, well above the guideline, after federal Judge Lawrence Zatkoff said she stole money orders and cashier’s checks from a bank. Someone else actually took them.
Zatkoff also had a sentence already on paper. The judge asked lawyers to read it and raise any objections.
Two members of the appeals panel say it’s not illegal but “should not be tolerated” because it leaves the perception that a defendant didn’t get a fair shake.
Lansing: Advisory board says retain Mich. genealogy project
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An advisory board is recommending that current genealogy collections and resources remain at the Michigan Library and Historical Center.
The report detailed Monday from the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board says the program should be maintained with “adequate funding.”
Michigan’s budget problems are leading to staffing and program cuts at the library and historical center. The library’s daily public hours will be temporarily reduced Aug. 2 through Sept. 3 as some collections are moved to other Michigan libraries. Regular hours are scheduled to resume Sept. 7.
The advisory council notes Michigan’s budget problems and urges a fiscally conservative approach.
The advisory board was created by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2009.
Flint: Mother bound over for trial in son’s beating death
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A Genesee County mother will stand trial on a second-degree murder charge in the death of her 4-year-old son, who authorities say was fatally beaten after wetting his pants.
The Flint Journal reports Monday that 67th District Court Judge John Conover determined there was enough evidence at Corrine Baker’s preliminary examination to support a charge that her inaction led to Dominick Calhoun’s death.
She was bound over to Genesee County Circuit Court.
Authorities say Baker’s boyfriend Brandon Hayes beat Dominick over several days after he wet his pants at their Argentine Township apartment. The boy died April 12.
Hayes is charged with torture and first-degree murder.
The Associated Press left a message Monday seeking comment from Baker’s attorney.
Lansing: Michigan absentee voters can track ballots online
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Voters casting absentee ballots now will be able to track their ballots online.
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said in a release Monday that absentee voters who enter personal identification information at the Michigan Voter Information Center website will be able to track their ballot.
The tracking feature notes when an application for an absentee ballot has been received by the local clerk’s office, when it was sent, and when the clerk received the returned ballot.
The site allows voters to check whether they are registered to vote, print a sample ballot, find their polling place and locate their local clerk. Information also is available about Michigan’s voting equipment and how to apply for an absentee ballot.
Levin is the son of U.S. Rep. Sander Levin.
